Magnetic resonance imaging (mri) findings in patients with knee trauma in a rural based tertiary hospital of north india

Background: To diagnose and characterize imaging findings in patients with trauma to knee using MRI in a hilly and rural area of North India.
Material/Methods: This prospective study was conducted for a period of one year from April 2016 to March 2017 in the departments of Radiodiagnosis and Orthopaedics of our institute. A total of 74 patients who had history of trauma to knee joint fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion
criteria were included in the study.
Results: In our study, age range was from 6 years to 85 years with mean age of 33 years and 54% being male patients. ACL tear was the most common detected pathology (66%). Partial tear (75%) was more common than complete tear. Hyperintensity in the ligament (69%) was the most common imaging finding and the mid substance tear (44%) was the most common site involved. PCL tear was much less common and was seen in 14.8 % of the patients. Medial meniscus tear was much more common than lateral meniscus tear. Medial meniscus tear was seen in 44% of the patients. Grade 3 tears were most common (54%). Lateral meniscus tear was seen in 24% of the patients. MCL and LCL injury was seen in 20% and 40% of the patients respectively.
Conclusions: MRI plays an invaluable role in the evaluation of patients with knee pain. ACL tear is the most common finding in trauma patients. Medial meniscus tears and MCL tears are commonly associated with ACL tears. PCL tear is less common. Medial meniscus tears are more common than lateral meniscus tears.